Elevating mechanisms



26, 1965 D. H. MELBYE ETAL 3,

ELEVATING MECHANISMS Filed Dec. 11, 1961 FIGI INVENTORS: DAVID H. MELBYEROBERT K. TURNEY ATT'YS United States Patent 3,213,574 ELEVATINGMECHANISMS David H. Melbye, 4513 W. 101st St., Oak Lawn, Ill., andRobert K. Turney, Rockford, Ill.; said Turney assignor to Said MelbyeFiled Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,197 4 Claims. (11!. 52-121) Thisinvention relates to elevating mechanisms, and more particularly toelevating mechanisms which are particularly well adapted for raisingarticles such as, ridge poles, and the like, in operations, such as, forexample, in the erection of a tent, or the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novelelevating mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel elevating mechanism which isparticularly well adapted for raising and lowering tents, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel elevatingmechanism, which is pole-like or post-like I in construction.

Yet another object is to afford a novel elevating mechanism of theaforementioned type, wherein the parts thereof are so constituted andarranged that they are movable relative to each other in a novel andexpeditious manner.

A further object is to afford a novel elevating mechanism, which ispole-like or post-like in form, and which embodies a plurality ofsections which are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditiousmanner.

Another object is to afford a novel elevating mechanism of theaforementioned type wherein the sections thereof are telescopicallydisposed relative to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel telescopingelevating mechanism embodying a plurality of elongated sections, whichare longitudinally movable relative to each other, and wherein the partsthereof are so constituted and arranged relative to each other that suchmovement may be relatively easily accomplished.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to afford a novel telescopingelevating mechanism of the aforementioned type, wherein the elongatedsections thereof are firmly supported in all positions of adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel elevatingmechanism of the aforementioned type which may be elongated andshortened in a novel and expeditious manner by pulling on and releasinga single tension member such as, for example a flexible cable or rope.

Yet another object is to enable such a novel elevating mechanism toembody three or more of the aforementioned relatively movable sections.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel elevatingmechanism of the aforementioned type which is practical and efficient inoperation and may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatwe now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplatedapplying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes maybe made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an elevating mechanism embodyingthe principles of the present invention,

3,213,574 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 and showing the mechanism in anextended or raised position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theline 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the elevating mechanism shown inFIG. 1 but showing the parts thereof in collapsed or lowered position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 55 in FIG. 3.

An elevating mechanism 1, embodying the principles of the presentinvention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

The elevating mechanism 1 comprises, in general, a telescoping,elongated post or pole 2, embodying a plurality of sections in the formof elongated, substantially straight members 3, 4, 5, and 6, disposed innested relation to each other, and an actuating mechanism 7 for raisingand lowering the inner sections 4-6 relative to the outermost section 3,and relative to each other.

Each of the members 3-5 includes a longitudinally extending,substantially channel-shaped, elongated central portion 8 having twooppositely disposed substantially parallel side walls 9 and 10 connectedto and extending from respective side edge portions of an intermediatewall 11, FIG. 4. Each of the members 3-5 also has two flanges 12 and 13projecting outwardly from the side edge portions of the side walls 9 and10, respectively, opposite to the side edges which are attached to theintermediate wall 11 of the respective members 3-5. The flanges 12 and13, like the longitudinal central portions 8, extend the full length ofthe respective members 3-5, and each is substantially channel-shaped intransverse cross-section, including two substantially parallel sidewalls 14 and 15 projecting from respective opposite edge portions of anintermediate wall 16, FIG. 4.

The members 35 are telescopingly disposed relative to each other, withthe member 4 mounted in the member 3, and member 5 mounted in the member4. The members 3 and 4 are of such size and configuration that when themember 4 is operatively mounted in the member 3, the channel-shapedportion 8 and the flanges 12 and 13 of the member 4 are slidably mountedin the channel-shaped portion 8 and the flanges 12 and 13, respectively,of the member 3, with the side walls 9 and 10 of the member 4 disposedbetween the members 9 and 10 of the member 3 with a relatively snug, butfreely slidable fit, and with the intermediate wall 11 of the member 4disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the wall 11 of the member 3,FIG. 4. Also, when the member 4 is so operatively mounted in the member3, the flanges 12 and 13 of the member 4 are disposed in the flanges 12and 13, respectively, of the member 3, with the walls 14, 15, and 16 ofeach of the flanges 12 and 13 of the member 4 disposed in relativelysnugly engaging, but freely slidable rela tion to the respective walls14-16 of the flanges 12 and 13, respectively, of the member 3, FIG. 4.

The member 5, when it is disposed in operative position in the member 4,is mounted therein in the same relation thereto as the member 4 ismounted in the member 3, the flanges 12 and 13 of the member 5 beingdisposed in the flanges 12 and 13, respectively, of the member 4 with arelatively snug but freely slidable fit, and the channelshaped portion 8of the member 5 also being disposed in the channel-shaped portion 8 ofthe member 4, with a relatively snug but a freely slidable fit betweenthe respective side walls 9 and 10, and with the wall 11 of the member 5disposed in inwardly spaced relation of the member 4, FIG. 4.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, when the members 3-5 are "a 3 disposed inoperative relation to each other, the open sides of the channel-shapedportions 8 thereof, which are disposed on the opposite sides thereoffrom the respective walls 11, all face in the same direction, namely, tothe right as viewed in FIG. 4.

The member 6 of the elongated post 2 also embodies an elongated,channel-shaped central portion 17 extending the length thereof. Thechannel-shaped central portion 17 of the member 16 includes twosubstantially parallel side walls 18 and 19 projecting from respectiveopposite edge portions of an intermediate wall 20. Two flanges 21 and 22project outwardly from the edge portions of the side walls 18 and 19,respectively, opposite to the edge portions of the respective side walls18 and 19 secured to the intermediate walls 20. The channelshapedportion 17 of the member 6 is of substantially the same transverse sizeand configuration as the channel-shaped portion 8 of the member 5, FIG.4, and the flanges 21 and 22 of the member 6, unlike the flanges 12 and13 of the members 3-5 are not channel-shaped in transverse cross-sectionbut are substantially uniplanar.

When the member 6 is disposed in operative position in the elevatingmechanism 1, the flanges 21 and 22 thereof are disposed in the flanges12 and 13, respectively, of the member 5, and the channel-shaped portion17 of the member 6 projects outwardly away from the channel-shapedportions 8 of the members 3-5 in such position that the open side of thechannel-shaped portion 17, which is opposite to the intermediate wall 20thereof, faces in the opposite direction to that in which the open sideof the channel-shaped members 8 face, FIG. 4. The flanges 21 and 22 areof such size and configuration, and are so disposed on the member 6,that when the member 6 is disposed in operative position in the erectingmechanism 1, the flanges 21 and 22 are disposed in the flanges 12 and 13and engage the walls 14-16 thereof with a relatively snug, but freelyslidable fit.

With this construction, it will be seen that the members 4-6 may bereciprocated longitudinally relatively to each other, and relative tothe member 3, throughout substantially their entire length, while stillmaintaining the members 3, 4, and in good, positive supportingrelationship to the members 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

The actuating mechanism 7 of the elevating mechanism 1 includes threesheaves or pulleys 23, 24, and 25 rotatably mounted on the upper endportions of the members 3-5, respectively, as will be discussed ingreater detail presently.

The upper end portion of the intermediate wall 11 of each of thechannel-shaped members 8 of the members 3-5 is cut away to afford anotch 26 in the upper edge portion of the channel-shaped member 8 ofeach of the members 3-5, FIGS. 1 and 2. The sheaves 23-25 are rotatablymounted on suitable pins 27, 28, and 29, which are mounted in andsecured to the side walls 9 and of the channel-shaped portions 8 of themembers 3-5, respectively, FIGS. 2 and 5. The pins 27 and 29 are sodisposed in the members 3-5, respectively, that the sheaves 23-25project outwardly through the notches 26 in the members 3-5,respectively, FIG. 2.

Spacing members in the form of sleeves 30 are mounted on each of thepins 27-29, FIG. 5. The sleeve 30 on pin 27 is disposed between thesheave 23 and the side wall 10 of the member 3 to thereby position thesheave 23 to the left of the longitudinal center line of the pole 2, asviewed in FIG. 1. The sleeve 30 on the pin 28 is disposed between thesheave 24 and the side wall 9 of the member 4 to thereby position thesheave 24 to the right of the longitudinal center line of the pole 2, asviewed in FIG. 1. The sleeve 30 on the pin 29 is disposed between thesheave 25 and the side wall 10 of the member 5 to thereby dispose thesheave 25 to the left of the longitudinal center line of the pole 2, asviewed in FIG. 1. The notches 2 6 are of such size and configura- 4 tionas to permit this offset positioning of the sheaves 23- 25.

The actuating mechanism 7 also includes three elongated tension members,preferably in the form of relative flexible cables 31, 32, and 33,trained over the sheaves 23-25, respectively. One end of the cable 33extends through the lower end portion of the intermediate wall 20 of themember 6 and is secured against inward withdrawal therethrough bysuitable means such as a knot 34, FIGS. 2 and 4. The other end of thecable 33 extends through the upper end portion of the intermediate wall11 of the member 4, and is secured against inward withdrawaltherethrough by suitable means such as a knot 35, FIGS. 2 and 4. Fromthe sheave 25 to the knot 35 the cable 33 extends downwardly past thesheave 24 to the left thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1.

One end portion of the cable 32 extends downwardly and inwardly from thesheave 24 and extends through the lower end portion of the intermediatewall 11 of the member 5, and is secured against inward withdrawaltherethrough by suitable securing means such as a knot 36, FIGS. 2 and4. The other end portion of the cable 32 projects downwardly from thesheave 24 and extends through the upper end portion of the wall 11 ofthe member 3, and is secured against inward withdrawal therethrough bysuitable securing means such as a knot 37, FIGS. 2 and 4. This latterend portion of the cable 32 projects downwardly from the sheave 24 tothe right of the sheave 23, as viewed in FIG. 1, FIGS. 1 and 4.

The cables 32 and 33 are preferably of such length, and are preferablyso disposed on the sheaves 24 and 25, respectively, that they are tautin all operative positions of the members 4, 5, and 6.

One end portion of the cable 31 extends downwardly and inwardly from thesheave 23 and extends through the lower end portion of the wall 11 ofthe member 4, and is secured against inward withdrawal therethrough bysuitable securing means such as a knot 38, FIGS. 2 and 4. The other endportion of the cable 31 projects outwardly from the sheave 23 and themember 3 to afford a portion 39 by which movement of the cable 31 may becontrolled to thereby control movement of the members 4-6 relative tothe member 3 and relative to each other, as will be discussed in greaterdetail presently.

The members 3-6 are preferably of such length relative to each otherthat when the pole 2 is disposed in fully lowered or fully collapsedposition, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the lower ends of the sections 3-6are preferably disposed in uniplanar relation to each other, the upperend portions of the members 4-6 project above the upper end portions ofthe members 3-5, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3.

In the operation of the elevating mechanism 1, when the members 4-6 aredisposed in fully lowered position as shown in FIG. 3, they may bequickly and easily moved upwardly relative to the member 3 by movementof the cable 31 from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, over the sheave23. Such movement of the cable 31 may be effected in any desired mannersuch as, for example, manually or by a suitable drive mechanism such asa winch, not shown. Such movement of the cable 31 is effective to movethe end portion thereof on which the knot 38 is disposed upwardly towardthe sheave 23. This movement of the cable 31 is effective to move themember 4 upwardly in the member 3. It will be remembered that the cable32 is preferably taut on the sheave 24. Therefore, the upward movementof the member 4 relative to the member 3 is effective to cause the endportion of the cable 32 on which the knot 36 is disposed to moveupwardly toward the sheave 24. This movement of the cable 32 iseffective to move the member 5 upwardly in the member 4. The movement ofthe member 5 upwardly in the member 4 is effective to cause the endportion of the cable 32 on which the knot 34 is disposed to moveupwardly toward the sheave 25 and thereby move the member 6 upwardly inthe member 5. In this manner, the pole 2 may be extended from itscollapsed or fully lowered position shown in FIG. 3 to an extended orraised position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When it is desired to againlower the raised sections 46 of the pole 2, this may be readilyaccomplished by releasing the tension on the cable 31 and permitting thesections 4-6 to move downwardly by gravity from the raised positionsshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the lowered position shown in FIG. 3.

The elevating mechanism 1 shown in the drawings is of a formparticularly well adapted for raising and lowering a rod-like member 40such as, for example, the ridge pole of a tent, or the like, andembodies a supporting bracket 41 secured to the upper end portion of themember 6 by suitable means such as rivets 42, and having an opening 43extending therethrough, through which opening 43, the ridge pole 40, orthe like, may be extended. With this construction, and with the ridgepole 40 of a tent, or the like, disposed in the opening 43 of thebracket 41, it will be seen that such a ridge pole may be quickly andeasily raised and lowered with our novel elevating mechanism 1 by merelypulling on and releasing, respectively, the end portion 39 of the cable31.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have afforded a novel andpractical elevating mechanism which is particularly well adapted for usein the raising and lowering of tents, and the like.

Also, it will be seen that we have aiforded a novel elevating mechanism,which is post-like or pole-like in form, and which may be readily andeconomically produced commercially.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable ofvariation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

We claim:

1. In an elevating mechanism, an upstanding, elongated member having achannel-shaped, longitudinally extending central portion and twolongitudinally extending flanges, said channel-shaped portion having anintermediate portion and two longitudinally extending side wallportions, said flanges projecting outwardly from the edge portions ofrespective ones of said side wall portions remote from said intermediateportion in generally opposite directions and having free edge portionsterminating in spaced relation to each other, said flanges beingchannel-shaped and opening generally inwardly toward the central portionof said member, another upstanding, elongated member having achannel-shaped, longitudinally extending central portion and twolongitudinally extending flanges, said lastmentioned channel-shapedportion having an intermediate portion and two longitudinally extendingside wall portions, said last-mentioned flanges projecting outwardlyfrom the edge portions of respective ones of said last-mentioned sidewall portions remote from said last-mentioned intermediate portion ingenerally opposite directions and being slidably mounted in a respectiveone of said first-mentioned flanges in position to support saidlast-mentioned intermediate portion in spaced relation to saidfirst-mentioned intermediate portion, said last-mentioned flanges beinglongitudinally reciprocable relative to said first-mentioned flanges, a

sheave rotatably mounted on the upper end portion of saidfirst-mentioned central portion, and a cable for longitudinallyreciprocating said other member relative to said first-mentioned member,said cable being trained over said sheave and having one end portionoperatively connected to said other member, and another end portiondisposed outwardly of said first-mentioned member in position to belongitudinally reciprocated through a path of movement effective tolongitudinally reciprocate said cable over said sheave.

2. The combination in an elevating mechanism as defined in claim 1, andin which said sheave is journaled between said first-mentioned side wallportions,

3. The combination in an elevating mechanism as defined in claim 1, andin which said second-mentioned intermediate portion is disposed on theside of said secondmentioned flanges remote from said first-mentionedintermediate portion.

4. An elevating mechanism comprising a plurality of upright, elongatedmembers having at least portions thereof nested one within the other,each of said members having a longitudinally extending, channel-shapedcentral portion having two free edge portions, and two flanges, each ofsaid flanges projecting outwardly from a respective one of said freeedge portions, each of said central portions having a longitudinallyextending open side, all of said open sides except said open side of theinnermost one of said members facing in the same direction, said openside of said innermost member facing in the opposite direction to theother of said sides, the flanges on each of said elongated member exceptsaid innermost member being channel-shaped, the flanges on each of theinner ones of said members being slidably mounted in the flanges on thenext outwardly disposed one of said elongated members, a plurality ofsheaves, said sheaves being rotatably mounted on the upper end portionsof respective ones of said channel-shaped portions which have open sidesfacing in the same direction, and means for longitudinally reciprocatingsaid inner members relative to the outermost one of said elongatedmembers and relative to each other, said means comprising a plurality ofelongated cables, each of said cables being trained over a respectiveone of said sheaves, each of said cables, ex cept the cable trained overthe sheave on the outermost member, having opposite end portionsoperatively connected to the two said members disposed immediatelyinwardly and outwardly, respectively, of said member on which is mountedthe sheave over which said respective cable is trained, said cable whichis trained over said sheave on said outermost member having one endportion operatively secured to the immediately inwardly disposed one ofsaid members, and another end portion projecting outwardly from saidoutermost member into position to be longitudinally reciprocatedoutwardly of said members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 133,017 11/72Davis 18914 722,552 3/03 Anderson 189-14 X 1,376,150 4/21 Miller 189842,942,700 6/60 Parmenter et al. 18914 RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

JOEL REZNEK, JACOB SHAPIRO, Examiners.

1. IN AN ELEVATING MECHANISM, AN UPSTANDING, ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING ACHANNEL-SHAPED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CENTRAL PORTION AND TWOLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLANGES, SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED PORTION HAVING ANINTERMEDIATE PORTION AND TWO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLPORTIONS, SAID FLANGES PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE EDGE PORTIONS OFRESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTIONS REMOTE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATEPORTION IN GENERALLY OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND HAVING FREE EDGE PORTIONSTERMINATING IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, SAID FLANGES HAVINGCHANNEL-SHAPED AND OPENING GENERALLY INWARDLY TOWARD THE CENTRAL PORTIONOF SAID MEMBER, ANOTHER UPSTANDING, ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING ACHANNEL-SHAPED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CENTRAL PORTION AND TWOLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLANGES, SAID LAST-MENTIONED CHANNEL-SHAPEDPORTION HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND TWO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGSIDE WALL PORTIONS, SAID LAST-MENTIONED FLANGES PROJECTING OUTWARDLYFROM THE EDGE PORTION OF RESPECTIE ONES OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED SIDE WALLPORTIONS REMOTE FROM SAID LAST-MENTIONED INTERMEDIATE PORTION INGENERALLY OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A RESPECTIVEONE OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED FLANGES IN POSITION TO SUPPORT SAIDLAST-MENTIONED INTERMEDIATE PORTION IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID FIRSTMENTIONED PORTION PORTION, SAID LAST-MENTIONED FLANGES BEINGLONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED FLANGES, ASHEAVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END PORTION OF SID FIRST-MENTIONEDCENTRAL PORTION, AND A CABLE FOR LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCATING SAID OTHERMEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED MEMBER, SAID CABLE BEING TRAINEDOVER SAID SHEAVE AND HAVING ONE END PORTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TOSAID OTHER MEMBER, AND ANOTHER END PORTION DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF SAIDFIRST-MENTIONED MEMBER IN POSITION TO BE LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCATEDTHROUGH A PATH OF MOVEMENT EFFECTIVE TO LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCATE SAIDCABLE OVER SAID SHEAVE.